The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, sits upon an immense reserve of lithium, a critical component for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with potential to make the United States self-sufficient in the mineral. While the area was once a popular vacation spot, it has since become an ecological disaster zone, exposing surrounding communities to toxic dust. Despite these challenges, companies are vying to extract lithium using new, less resource-intensive technology that could revitalize the local economy, create thousands of jobs, and significantly boost U.S. lithium production. The extraction process, Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), promises higher efficiency and less environmental impact than traditional methods. However, community leaders are advocating for environmental justice and calling for industry commitments to address existing ecological and health issues.
- The Salton Sea contains an estimated 18 million metric tons of lithium in geothermal brine.
- Lithium from the Salton Sea could lead to the U.S. becoming self-sufficient in the mineral, crucial for EV batteries.
- The lake’s current ecological state poses health risks due to toxic dust from its drying bed.
- Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) is a new technology being developed to efficiently extract lithium with minimal environmental impact.
- EnergySource Minerals, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and Controlled Thermal Resources are the main competitors in the region’s lithium extraction market.
- EnergySource plans to start commercial lithium production by 2027, with an expected output sufficient for half a million EV batteries annually.
- The region holds enough lithium to potentially produce nearly half of the current global output.
- Community leaders are pushing for the lithium industry to address and mitigate the environmental and health issues caused by the lake’s toxic dust.
- Imperial County could see up to 81,000 new jobs from the lithium industry, despite water usage concerns in the drought-prone area.
- California legislation has been passed to tax lithium production, with funds earmarked for community benefit projects and Salton Sea restoration.
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